Subsea template architecture

ABSTRACT

A subsea template manifold and method, of which the subsea template manifold includes a first suction compartment configured to be at least partially embedded in a sea floor, a second suction compartment configured to be at least partially embedded in the sea floor, and a bridging element extending between and connected to the first and second suction compartments. The bridging element is configured to be at least partially embedded in the sea floor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/432,968, filed on Dec. 12, 2016, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Subsea templates are large subsea structures that support or otherwisehouse wellheads, Christmas trees, and manifolds. A subsea manifold ismade up of pipes and valves and is designed to transfer hydrocarbonsfrom wellheads into a pipeline. The manifold is mounted onto thetemplate, e.g., at the seafloor.

Generally, the subsea template includes a foundation that is at leastpartially embedded within the seafloor. More particularly, thefoundation may include several pilings, which may be suctioncompartments (also referred to as suction anchors), e.g., positioned atthe corners of the structure. The suction compartments have an openlower end, which is lowered, and then forced, into the seafloor, therebyanchoring the subsea template manifold in place.

The remainder of the structure is built up from and supported by thesesuction compartments. A variety of truss-structures, support beams,etc., are connected to the suction compartments to provide the subseatemplate with sufficient stability and rigidity to allow for safe andeffective operation of the subsea devices associated therewith. This cancall for a large amount of material, which can be expensive in itself,and also can be expensive and time-consuming to build onto the suctioncompartments.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a subsea templatemanifold including a first suction compartment configured to be at leastpartially embedded in a sea floor, a second suction compartmentconfigured to be at least partially embedded in the sea floor, and abridging element extending between and connected to the first and secondsuction compartments. The bridging element is configured to be at leastpartially embedded in the sea floor.

Embodiments of the disclosure may also provide a method for supporting asubsea manifold at a sea floor including embedding at least a portion ofa suction compartment of a subsea template manifold into a seabed, andembedding at least a portion a bridging element of the subsea templateinto the seabed. The bridging element extends between and is connectedto the first and second suction compartments.

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide an apparatus for supporting asubsea well system, including a first suction anchor configured to be atleast partially embedded in a sea floor, a second suction anchorconfigured to be at least partially embedded in the sea floor, and abridging element extending between and connected to the first and secondsuction anchors. The bridging element is configured to be at leastpartially embedded in the sea floor.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that arefurther described below in the detailed description. This summary is notintended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope ofthe claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the presentteachings and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the present teachings. In the figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a subsea template, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the template, according toanother embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the template, according to yetanother embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic plan view of four wellhead devices, whichmay be configured to be landed on and/or otherwise connected to the fourwells, respectively, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method for supporting a subseamanifold at a sea floor, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments illustratedin the accompanying drawings and figures. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods,procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been describedin detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first object could be termed asecond object, and, similarly, a second object could be termed a firstobject, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in thedescription and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that theterm “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and possiblecombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will befurther understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof. Further, as used herein, the term “if” may beconstrued to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or“in response to detecting,” depending on the context.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a subsea template 100,according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the subsea template 100may be configured to support a manifold for transferring process fluids(e.g., hydrocarbons) from one or more wells to a pipeline. The template100 may include one or more suction compartments (four shown: 102, 104,106, 108). The suction compartments 102-108 may be cylindrical pilings,which may be configured to be positioned at least partially below thesurface of the seafloor (i.e., “embedded” at least partially in theseafloor). The suction compartments 102-108 may be hollow cylinders,which may be open at the bottom. This may allow for the suctioncompartments 102-108 to sink into the seafloor upon landing thereonduring installation. Suction may then be applied to the upper end of thesuction compartments 102-108 so as to drive the suction compartments102-108 farther into, e.g., entirely into, the seafloor.

The template 100 may also include a top plate 110, which may extendlaterally (e.g., in a generally horizontal, parallel to the seafloordirection) between the suction compartments 102-108. Further, the topplate 110 may be coupled to the upper end of the suction compartments102-108, and thus may be configured to be positioned slightly above orat the seafloor when the suction compartments 102-108 are installed inthe seafloor. In some embodiments, the top plate 110 may be provided byseveral segments, one extending between each pair of adjacent suctioncompartments 102-108 as shown, but in other embodiments, may be a singleplate.

One or more bridging elements 112, 114, 116, 118 may extend between andbe coupled to the suction compartments 102-108. For example, respectiveones of the bridging elements 112-118 may extend between two of thesuction compartments 102-108. In some embodiments, the bridging elements112-118 may be coupled to the top plate 110, but in other embodiments,the bridging elements 112-118 and the top plate 110 may be separate.

The bridging elements 112-118 may be or include relatively thin,vertically-oriented (i.e., with the thin side facing vertically) plates.In a specific embodiment, each of the bridging elements 112-118 mayinclude two such plates 120, 122, one nearer to the center of thetemplate 100 than the other, with the plates 120, 122 being offset fromand extending generally parallel to one another. Between the plates 120,122 of at least one of the bridging elements (e.g., elements 112 and116), one or more wellheads 200, 202, 204, 206 may be positioned. Eachwellhead 200-206 may include connectors for connecting to wellheadequipment (e.g., Christmas trees, blowout preventers, etc.), which maybe or include one or more vertically-oriented posts. Within eachwellhead 200-206, a washout sleeve 214, 216, 218, 220 may be positioned,e.g., between the two plates 120, 122. The washout sleeves 214-220 maybe connected to the top plate 110 and/or one of the bridging elements112-118. Further, the washout sleeves 214-220 may be connected to wells,and may represent the upper end of such wells (accordingly, in somecases herein, reference numbers 214-220 may be described as pointing towells). Well-support brackets 250, 252 may be connect to the bridgingelements 112-118 and the corresponding washout sleeves/wells 214-220.

Further, the bridging elements 112, 116 may include the well-supportbrackets 250, 252. The well-support brackets 250, 252 may couple to thewells 214-220 (e.g., washout sleeves/wellheads 270 thereof). Thewell-support brackets 250, 252 may further couple to one of the plates120, 122 and/or to one of the suction containers 102-108.

The well-support brackets 250, 252 may be vertically-oriented plates,brackets, struts, etc. In some embodiments, the well-support brackets250, 252 may extend downwards, and may be generally triangular, e.g., soas to facilitate extending and embedding the brackets 250, 252 into theseafloor. In other embodiments, the well-support brackets 250 may extendbetween the plates 120, 122, as shown, and extend upwards therefrom,such that the brackets 250, 252 may, in some cases, not be embedded inthe seafloor during installation. The well-support brackets 250, 252 maythus provide lateral support and rigidity for the wells 214-220.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the template 100, according toanother embodiment. In this embodiment, the template 100 omits thefourth suction chamber 108, and thus provides a generally triangularfootprint. It will be appreciated that embodiments including five ormore suction chambers 108, and any number of shapes for the footprint,are contemplated herein. Further, in this embodiment, the bridgingelements 112-116 (bridging element 118 may be omitted) may be generallyconstructed the same as one another, and may each include well-supportbrackets 250, 252, for positioning a well therebetween (well not shown).

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the template 100, according toyet another embodiment. As shown, the plates 120, 122 of the bridgingelements 112-118 may each be connected to one of the wells 214-220. Forexample, the plates 120, 122 may each provide one of the well-supportbrackets 250, 252, such that the plates 120, 122 (and thus the bridgingelements 112-118) are connected to the suction compartments 102-108 viathe connection with the wells 214-220.

With the wells 214-220 positioned (e.g., one each) between the suctioncompartments 102-108, the wellhead equipment may be similarly clocked at90 degree angles. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic plan viewof four wellhead devices 400, 402, 404, 406, which may be configured tobe landed on and/or otherwise connected to the four wells 214-220,respectively, according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the fourwellhead devices 400-406 may each be a Christmas tree. Accordingly, thefour wellhead devices 400-406 may each include a remote operated vehicle(ROV) panel 408, 410, 412, 414. So as to allow for each of the ROVpanels 408-414 to face outwards, each of the wellhead devices 400-406may be rotated 90 degrees from the adjacent wellhead device 400-406. Insome situations, this may allow for a more compact template 100.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-4, FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchartof a method 500 for supporting a subsea manifold, using a subseatemplate such as the template 100, at a sea floor, according to anembodiment. The method 500 may include embedding at least a portion of afirst suction compartment 102-108 and a second suction compartment102-108 of a subsea template manifold 100 into a seabed, as at 502. Themethod 500 may further include embedding at least a portion a bridgingelement 112-118 of the subsea template 100 into the seabed, as at 504.The bridging element 112-118 extends between and is connected to thefirst and second suction 102-108 compartments.

In some embodiments, embedding the at least a portion of the first andsecond suction compartments 102-108 at 502 and embedding at least aportion of the bridging element 112-118 at 504 occur at least partiallyat the same time (i.e., simultaneously or overlapping in time).

In some embodiments, the bridging element 112-118 includes one or morevertically-oriented plates extending laterally between the first andsecond suction compartments 102-108 and being fixed thereto. In suchembodiments, embedding the at least a portion of the bridging element112-118 at 504 may include embedding at least a portion of the plates120, 122 into the seabed.

In some embodiments, the method 500 may include positioning, at 506, afirst Christmas tree 700, a second Christmas tree 702, a third Christmastree 704, and a fourth Christmas tree 706, on the subsea template 100and in communication with the wells 214-220. Each of the first, second,third, and fourth Christmas trees 700-706 faces in a differentdirection. For example, each of the Christmas trees 700-706 may berotated 90 degrees in orientation from the adjacent Christmas trees700-706.

As used herein, the terms “inner” and “outer”; “up” and “down”; “upper”and “lower”; “upward” and “downward”; “above” and “below”; “inward” and“outward”; and other like terms as used herein refer to relativepositions to one another and are not intended to denote a particulardirection or spatial orientation. The terms “couple,” “coupled,”“connect,” “connection,” “connected,” “in connection with,” and“connecting” refer to “in direct connection with” or “in connection withvia one or more intermediate elements or members.”

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Moreover,the order in which the elements of the methods described herein areillustrate and described may be re-arranged, and/or two or more elementsmay occur simultaneously. The embodiments were chosen and described inorder to best explain the principals of the invention and its practicalapplications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to bestutilize the invention and various embodiments with various modificationsas are suited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A subsea template manifold, comprising: a firstsuction compartment configured to be at least partially embedded in asea floor; a second suction compartment configured to be at leastpartially embedded in the sea floor; and a bridging element extendingbetween and connected to the first and second suction compartments,wherein the bridging element is configured to be at least partiallyembedded in the sea floor.
 2. The subsea template manifold of claim 1,wherein the bridging element comprises one or more vertically-orientedplates extending laterally between the first and second suctioncompartments and being fixed thereto.
 3. The subsea template manifold ofclaim 1, wherein the bridging element comprises a first plate and asecond plate, the first and second plates each being coupled to thefirst and second suction compartments and extending generally parallelto one another, the subsea template manifold being configured to connectto a well between the first and second plates.
 4. The subsea templatemanifold of claim 1, wherein the bridging element comprises a firstsection and a second section, the first section being connected to thefirst suction compartment, and the second section being connected to thesecond suction compartment, the subsea template manifold furthercomprising a washout sleeve connected to the first and second sections,such that the first and second sections are connected to one another viathe washout sleeve.
 5. The subsea template manifold of claim 1, furthercomprising a well-support bracket and a washout sleeve positionedbetween the first and second suction compartments and coupled to thebridging element, wherein the well-support bracket is coupled to thewashout sleeve, and the first suction compartment, the bridging element,or both, and wherein the well-support bracket is configured to be atleast partially embedded below the sea floor.
 6. The subsea templatemanifold of claim 1, further comprising a top plate coupled to the firstsuction compartment, the second suction compartment, and the supportbracket, wherein the top plate is configured to be above or on the seafloor and to support one more seafloor devices.
 7. The subsea templatemanifold of claim 1, wherein the bridging element comprises a firstbridging element, the subsea template manifold further comprising: athird suction compartment configured to be at least partially embeddedbeneath the sea floor; a fourth suction compartment configured to be atleast partially embedded beneath the sea floor; a second bridgingelement extending between and connected to the second and third suctioncompartments; a third bridging element extending between and connectedto the third and fourth suction compartments; a fourth bridging elementextending between and connected to the first and fourth suctioncompartments; a plurality of washout sleeves, wherein a respective oneof the plurality of washout sleeves connected to each of the first,second, third, and fourth bridging elements.
 8. The subsea templatemanifold of claim 7, further comprising a first Christmas tree, a secondChristmas tree, a third Christmas tree, and a fourth Christmas tree,each facing in a different direction and each being coupled to one ofthe plurality of washout sleeves.
 9. A method for supporting a subseamanifold at a sea floor, comprising: embedding at least a portion of asuction compartment of a subsea template manifold into a seabed; andembedding at least a portion a bridging element of the subsea templateinto the seabed, wherein the bridging element extends between and isconnected to the first and second suction compartments.
 10. The methodof claim 9, wherein embedding the at least a portion of the suctioncompartment and the embedding at least a portion of the bridging elementoccur at least partially at the same time.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the bridging element comprises one or more vertically-orientedplates extending laterally between the first and second suctioncompartments and being fixed thereto, wherein embedding the at least aportion of the bridging element comprises embedding at least a portionof the plates into the seabed.
 12. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising positioning a first Christmas tree, a second Christmas tree,a third Christmas tree, and a fourth Christmas tree, on the subseatemplate and in communication with the wells, wherein each of the first,second, third, and fourth Christmas trees faces in a differentdirection.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first, second, third,and fourth Christmas trees face in four different directions, 90 degreesoffset from one another.
 15. An apparatus for supporting a subsea wellsystem, comprising: a first suction anchor configured to be at leastpartially embedded in a sea floor; a second suction anchor configured tobe at least partially embedded in the sea floor; and a bridging elementextending between and connected to the first and second suction anchors,wherein the bridging element is configured to be at least partiallyembedded in the sea floor.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein thebridging element comprises one or more vertically-oriented platesextending laterally between the first and second suction anchors andbeing fixed thereto.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bridgingelement comprises a first plate and a second plate, the first and secondplates each being coupled to the first and second suction anchors andextending generally parallel to one another, the subsea templatemanifold being configured to connect to a well between the first andsecond plates.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a topplate coupled to the first suction anchor, the second suction anchor,and the support bracket, wherein the top plate is configured to be aboveor on the sea floor and to support one more subsea devices.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein the bridging element comprises a firstbridging element, the subsea template manifold further comprising: athird suction anchor configured to be at least partially embeddedbeneath the sea floor; a fourth suction anchor configured to be at leastpartially embedded beneath the sea floor; a second bridging elementextending between and connected to the second and third suction anchors;a third bridging element extending between and connected to the thirdand fourth suction anchors; a fourth bridging element extending betweenand connected to the first and fourth suction anchors; a plurality ofwellheads, wherein a respective one of the plurality of wellheads isconnected to each of the first, second, third, and fourth bridgingelements.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a firstChristmas tree, a second Christmas tree, a third Christmas tree, and afourth Christmas tree, each facing in a different direction and eachbeing coupled to one of the plurality of wellheads.